Alexandra Eala just claimed her first WTA singles title at the Mubadala DC Open by winning against a draw packed with Grand Slam champions and top seeds, including Naomi Osaka, Jessica Pegula, and Elina Svitolina. And according to former world No. 1 Andy Roddick, there’s a brilliant tactic she uses to make her opponents ‘uncomfortable.’
“She’s Not Scared to Play Top Players” – Andy Roddick Reveals How Alexandra Eala Keeps Troubling Tennis’ Best
Speaking on his podcast, “Served,” following Eala’s stunning victory in the final on Monday, after a rain-delayed, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 comeback win over top-seeded Pegula, Roddick had high praise for the young Filipina.
“How’s this for a draw?” Roddick asked, pointing to Eala’s road to the title. In Washington, she edged past reigning Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng in the Round of 32, defending Washington champion Leylah Fernandez in the Round of 16, Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals, Naomi Osaka in the semis, and finally, world No. 3 Pegula in the championship game. Pegula and Svitolina are World No. 3 and 9, respectively, while Osaka is a former World No. 1 and a four-time Grand Slam champion.
“She’s not scared to play top players, by the way,” Roddick noted before sharing his observation on Eala’s game. “She makes them uncomfortable. They have to be annoyed because they never get the same shot in the same spot. She’s very good at switching directions, right?”
Eala’s rise on the tour has been building over the last year, especially since her breakout run at the Miami Open last year, in which she reached the semifinals before losing to Pegula. This year, she has also defeated World No. 2 Elena Rybakina in Berlin and Iga Świątek at Wimbledon.
Besides, as a Filipina, she is making history with each win. After the DC Open victory, Eala broke into the world’s Top 20 for the first time, the highest singles ranking ever achieved by a player from the Philippines. And as a trailblazer redefining tennis in Southeast Asia, she boasts a massive fanbase as well.
At 13 years old, Eala joined Nadal’s tennis academy, where she trained with the 22-time Grand Slam champion. In 2023, she graduated from there, and it was the then-World No. 1 Świątek who awarded her the diploma.
Next up, Eala will play on Wednesday, August 5, against Alycia Parks in Toronto at the National Bank Open Round of 64, where she earned a first-round bye as the 25th seed.
